Authorities have sealed a portion of a hotel in Hunza after a viral video by a foreign travel vlogger revealed that the hotel was dumping sewage directly into Attabad Lake. The video, shared by George Buckley on Instagram, sparked public outrage and immediate action from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the local district administration.
Buckley claimed that the hotel’s waste was flowing untreated into the lake, which is one of Gilgit-Baltistan’s most popular tourist destinations. He also mentioned that locals informed him about the issue and even showed him the visible difference between the clean and polluted sections of the lake. “Officials have arrived, and part of the hotel is now sealed,” Buckley said in his update.
Attabad Lake, formed in 2010 due to a massive landslide, is known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and is a hotspot for boating, fishing, and sightseeing. However, locals have raised concerns about the growing number of resorts and homes that may be disposing of waste into the lake without proper sewage systems.
Following the viral video, the Gilgit-Baltistan government swiftly sent a team from the EPA to investigate the situation. The inspection confirmed that part of the hotel structure was indeed responsible for environmental damage, prompting partial closure.
Environmental activists and residents have long urged authorities to implement stricter regulations around the lake. They warn that without proper waste management systems, Attabad Lake and even the downstream Indus River could suffer irreversible pollution.
This incident has reignited the conversation around sustainable tourism in northern Pakistan. Many now demand that resorts near natural attractions follow eco-friendly practices and that the government ensures routine inspections to protect the region’s beauty and biodiversity.